It is important to remember that the world is changing. Similarly, the desire to ensure one’s national interest has become a priority in many countries. Having represented a nation on many frontiers, countries, including superpowers around the globe, have been exerting their utmost efforts. Ethiopia is also doing its level best to maintain its national interest in this volatile Red Sea region.
Depending on single port has been costing the country arms and legs because the country could not get to access the sea on its own. For the past three decades, the country has been using various neighboring ports, and this path, using neighboring ports for the coming many years, can be difficult for a country with 120 million population. Not having sea access, Ethiopia has been under economic and security threats as the nation are very much dependent on imported goods.
Back in January, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) called for regional cooperation through a win-win approach for mutual interest in relation to letting Ethiopia access the sea. The Premier also offered a kind of give-and-take approach to let the nation access to the sea and in return Ethiopia let the other party get a share in one of the flagship projects or companies including the Ethiopian Airlines and the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
After rigorous efforts from Ethiopia, Somaliland accepted the call from its neighbor and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to let the latter access a part of its sea territory and in return, get recognition from Ethiopia to be known as a sovereign country and other additional agreements.
The MoU has faced different feedbacks. After the MoU was signed, the two parties also entertained different pressures from different directions. Some historical enemies of Ethiopia have left no stone unturned to avert the MoU by standing with Somalia. Even, some countries have also used different blocs such as the Arab League to reflect their stand towards the accord.
In fact, when Somaliland previously entered into an agreement with one of the giant companies, DP World, the agreement did not face that many complaints from countries or blocs. Whereas, when it comes to Ethiopia’s move, entities that do not want the nation’s development raise their voice for objections. Such moves are what Ethiopia has been overcoming in its long history.
Ethiopia and Somaliland have presented themselves and their agreement that the accord is not designed to affect any party or nation. Besides, the MoU is all about defending the national interest of both parties. In good truth, Ethiopia should be part of the region and get what other nations get.
Ethiopia has been taking multiple actions in the horn in order to ensure the peace and security of the region by deploying and sacrificing its soldiers in neighboring nations. Unfortunately, those countries have forgotten the deeds that Ethiopia paid for the region. On the other hand, other nations who have done nothing stood by and did everything to tarnish the MoU so as to defend their national interest behind the curtain.
The two negotiating parties have shown their stand regarding the accord. To this end, Ethiopia, this time, needs the international community to support Ethiopia and the accord to become effective. Again, Somaliland has expressed its government and people’s desire towards the accord in support in full.
Recently, during the course of the official discussion with the Swiss Foreign Minister, Ambassador Taye Atske Selassie, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ethiopia, expressed the nation’s wish that it is high time for the international community to support Ethiopia’s desire to own a seaport. The minister has requested Switzerland to stand with Ethiopia as the latter is now putting utmost efforts to regain a sea outlet.
Ambassador Taye stated, “Ethiopia has been demanding access to the sea for decades. The first reason is pretty much economic; the pursuit that flourished at this time is also mainly triggered by economic causes because the economy is over-dependent on a single port. Besides, Ethiopia has been demanding outlets which become unattainable.”
As to him, it is now high time for Ethiopia to seek additional ports for basic transactions and commercial purposes. Thus, the Ethiopian government is searching for alternative ways to access the sea with justifiable modalities. The Red Sea has become a center of insecurity as it has created uncertainty for Ethiopia. It is also becoming very difficult to navigate [without security apparatus], he added.
As to the ambassador, Ethiopia is thus cooperating with countries and multilateral organizations for the stability of the region-Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is concerned with regional instabilities including the Sudanese case and trying to facilitate mediations with a view to resolving conflicts by conflicting parties’ own effort and conciseness, he noted.
Speaking about the Sudanese case, he said that Sudan is critical and important for the region; and direct consultation between Sudanese parties would bring stable peace as Sudan has to be led by the Sudanese themselves.
In a similar vein, having stayed exclusively with The Ethiopian Herald, Mohamed Hussien Jama Rambo, member of the Somaliland house of Parliament, also elucidated that Somaliland is not just dedicated but unwavering in its commitment to implement the sea access deal it entered with Ethiopia recently.
The MP slammed external intervention while vowing that Hargeisa will not bow down to any pressures. He added, “We are accustomed to pressures from entities that do not appreciate our development. Yet, we resist these pressures, demonstrating our resilience. We honor agreements. Somaliland will not bow down to any pressure.”
Commenting on the statements of some entities like the Arab League, he said that the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia does not concern the Arab League, and they should not waste their time on such issues. Previously, Somalia objected to Somaliland’s deals with DP World and the U.S., but the objection did not work. It did not impact how these deals were implemented, he added.
Speaking of the reaction of the Somaliland public, he said that Somaliland people are happy with the agreement. They welcomed it and expressed joy. Somalilanders are ready for business and are committed to engaging with their neighbors closely to ensure integration. That is enshrined in the constitution.
BY DANIEL ALEMAYEHU
The Ethiopian Herald March 31/2024
